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Volunteer's Week 2022 - Ian

Our Nature and Wellbeing session in Happy Mount Park with their Bee Hotel

Our volunteer Ian tells us about his experience with The Bay, in celebration of Volunteer's Week 2022!

My name is Ian Grundy-Campbell. For Volunteer’s week I’ve been asked to write about my experiences working with The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery in Morecambe Bay. It’s a bittersweet assignment as it’s the last task I’ll undertake as part of this group, having recently moved out of the area.

Until recently, I spent most of my time running pubs, but when we moved to the North West after the birth of our first child, I became more and more involved in the natural environment and our role in its preservation. During Covid, I began working alongside my partner who provides consulting services in mental health for the World Health Organisation. As I learned more about her work, I became increasingly interested in the intersection between mental health, wellbeing and the natural environment, and after my own bout of depression I went looking for a project that combined those interests.

2 people standing under a tarp in the rain surrounded by trees

A little bit of rain doesn’t deter us from going ahead with the Nature & Wellbeing Sessions!

My search led me to the Wildlife Trust and the Bay: Blueprint for Recovery project, a partnership between Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the Eden Project, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the local NHS foundation trust, with support from People's Postcode Lottery.

In Morecambe Bay I volunteered alongside Alex and Megan as part of a small group which met weekly to carry out wellbeing projects in Morecambe’s Happy Mount Park.

It was immediately clear the impact these sessions could have on people’s wellbeing - and I can say that with certainty, based on my own experience: these Wednesday sessions quickly became the highlight of my week as we engaged in various tasks from Willow weaving, wildlife identification, creating ‘seed bombs’, maintaining a bug hotel, or making woodland art. Being engaged and focused on a worthwhile task new and complex enough to require concentration, but not so difficult as to be off-putting, whilst outdoors (in all weathers!), created an enormous sense of peace, and facilitated easy and relaxed conversation within the group.

5 people standing around a bug hotel in a woodland

Our Nature and Wellbeing session in Happy Mount Park with their Bee Hotel

The group is made up of people of all ages and backgrounds, and each member of the group had their own skills and knowledge which over time they would often choose to share -though it was often enough just to work side-by-side in comfortable silence.

I think my own role was simple. I tried to support Alex and Megan in running the activities, but mostly it was about talking openly to and listening to people in the group. I tried my best to make people feel welcome and involved in whatever capacity they felt comfortable. Sometimes each of us had something we wanted to share, and sometimes for each of us we were happy to sit back and just enjoy the peace and community of the group.

I found the group incredibly welcoming, open, and honest. It felt like a safe space where everyone was free to share as much or as little as they wished. Our work fostered a sense of trust between the participants and created connections and bonds of friendship that stretched beyond the group.

I felt honoured to be a part of it, and to benefit from the wealth of knowledge brought to us by Alex, Megan and occasional visiting experts – as well as the knowledge brought by the members of the group.

The sessions felt like an oasis of kindness in a world which can often move fast. I was immensely proud to be part of it – to call myself a volunteer. To anyone considering joining the group as a participant or volunteer, I cannot recommend it highly enough – just bring yourself - whatever that means to you, good days or bad - and you will find welcome and support.

I am so glad to have had the opportunity to take part, and I hope it continues to thrive. I’m sure it will.

For my part, I will miss it enormously.

Ian, Volunteer

Alex and Megan wishing Ian all the best for his move!

If you are interested in volunteering with us to support the delivery of our Nature & Wellbeing sessions, we would love to hear from you, please contact Alex at ablomfield@edenproject.com for more information.

If you'd like to join our Nature & Wellbeing sessions, or know someone who might benefit from our programme, please fill out a referral form.

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